Liberty County's Precinct 1 Constable Timothy Allison is facing charges of official oppression, accused of arresting a wrecker yard employee who would not release a car because the fees had not been paid, prosecutors said Wednesday.

"The vehicle had been towed to that storage lot, and he wanted it released," said prosecutor Julian Ramirez. He said the car did not belong to Allison, but said little more about the pending charges.

Ramirez is chief of the Harris County District Attorney's Civil Rights division, which investigates officers.

Allison is accused of handcuffing, arresting and detaining the woman who worked at a Harris County tow lot on Nov. 1.